Someone who actually gets it. I used to download TV shows all the time. I didn't want to pay cable just to get a single TV show. And online options were extremely limited.

And then Amazon started selling season passes for TV shows. I can watch them day after release, no comercials (except FOX and FX, I hate those comercials). And its cheaper to buy a dozen full seasons then pay a years cable subscription.

Game of Thrones, essentialy not available in Australia. Priacy rates through the roof. One year, avaialble on iTunes. Significant sales. HBO seeing the obscene piracy levels offers their own digital service trying to get more paying customers.

Too bad this will all fall on deaf ears as far as media companies are concerned. They just don't get that they could be earning even more money if they start adapting, rather than threatening people. But the way they are going, I'm almost waiting for the day when a certain amount of daily media consumption will be legally mandated.

Oh the angst of the pro-Piracy lobby now. Whether to agree with the senator that current copyright law encourages people to steal, or disagree with him 'cause he calls it stealing.

Decisions, decisions.

Not really sure what your point is. He is right that draconian copyright laws and geoblocking are as far as I am concerned one of the main reasons for using Torrents. A very large group of people would stop downloading if there only was an easier way to view content they want to view. That means no "not available in your country" bullshit or anything like that. In the era of global network connections, I am not going to wait extra x months for release of something I am interested in just because I happen to live in Europe and not the US. I'm sorry, but I won't. But if you provide stuff in a timely fashion and at reasonable price, I'm happy to try the legal option. An example of reasonably priced legal option is Netflix. Their drawback is that they usually don't have the newest stuff, but for older things it's a pretty good solution at the moment.

Even if what he says is reasonable I question why he is making false statements conflating piracy with theft and talking about strengthening copyright. The half-assed solution to geoblocking won't help either. He seems to want to look like hes making reasonable concessions and is "negotiating" when he's really only interested in creating a perception that he is.

What actually needs to happen is enforcement should be curtailed so frivolous takedowns, the various enforcement scams, and ownership claims on tangentially related works are no longer possible; public domain status should be automatic and easy; copyright terms should be brought back down to 20 years at most and have active use stipulations.

That's exactly why I pay for Netflix for its multitude of shows and movies but pirate Silicon Valley and GoT. The former gives me what I want while the latter are unavailable legally for all intents and purposes.

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, has admitted that EU copyright law is "pushing people to steal," because they seek out illegal copies of works that are not available to them legally because of the widespread use of geoblocking in Europe.

Personally, I think they need to go beyond removing geoblocking and make it easier for the average consumer to get what they've already paid for.

I have quite a few blu-ray disc I'd really like to use on my iPad but the hoops I have to go thru have kept me from getting it done.

Honestly I'm not sure how media executives even manage to dress themselves in the morning. What a lot of this boils down to is the media companies complain that people aren't buying their stuff but ignore the fact that they aren't willing to sell their stuff. I can just imagine how their meetings must go.

Tweedledee "How are we ever going to get this people to actually buy our stuff instead of stealing it?"Tweedledum "Maybe we could offer to sell it to them?"Tweedledee "No! That's crazy talk! They have to stop stealing it first!"Tweedledum "You're right! Why should we believe they would buy it if we sold it?"

100% fact. Netflix and Hulu are easier than priacy now. I can load up Hulu/Netflix on everything, and it all be one account. I'm pretty sure my new Cuisinart automatic toaster can playback Netflix, I still haven't figured out how it works though.

If you don't want people to go to torrenting you have to make it easier to consume your media. If I have to wait 3 months longer than a torrent, then go to a store, buy a Bluray, put it in the player and play it - only to be met with unskippable trailers during the first boot and a bunch of bullshit ads and "bluray live" nonsense then it will drive me to a less asinine solution (one of which is piracy). I have the ability to pay, I want to pay, but they don't want to take my money is often the problem people have. The Oatmeal said it best.

100% fact. Netflix and Hulu are easier than priacy now. I can load up Hulu/Netflix on everything, and it all be one account. I'm pretty sure my new Cuisinart automatic toaster can playback Netflix, I still haven't figured out how it works though.

When you do get it figured out, let me know.

My fridge has problems playing Netflix and I need some help getting it working.

Another reason to use proxies or VPN in Europe is the legislation that forces the dubbing of foreign films and tv material to the local language. This heinous practice, which one suspects is primarily an employment program for talentless actors, completely ruins most such material. So, for instance, even if a US-made TV series is nominally available and broadcast in European countries -Austria, say- the material is unwatchable and one must find it by other methods, to enjoy the unadulterated original.

And one must still pay license fees for the unwatchable TV to boot, to add insult to injury. Europeans don't necessarily want to steal material as such, and one may make the case that one has already paid the proper licenses for, say US TV series, except the damned things are destroyed before broadcasting.

I think Ansip is right, the copyright holders are shooting themselves in their feet, with misguided legislation.

While better availability of paid services is a good thing they are not always equal in all countries. My Netflix in Canada has quite a significant difference of available titles vs. the US ones. The same applies to my music streaming service.

It is still geo-blocking just under the guise of a different service instead of from the networks themselves.

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, has admitted that EU copyright law is "pushing people to steal," because they seek out illegal copies of works that are not available to them legally because of the widespread use of geoblocking in Europe.

Personally, I think they need to go beyond removing geoblocking and make it easier for the average consumer to get what they've already paid for.

I have quite a few blu-ray disc I'd really like to use on my iPad but the hoops I have to go thru have kept me from getting it done.

I just don't want to deal with the hassle after a long day at work.

Stop your bitching, got to iTunes, and pay them more money for the movie you already paid them money for. Geez, some people are never happy.

100% fact. Netflix and Hulu are easier than priacy now. I can load up Hulu/Netflix on everything, and it all be one account. I'm pretty sure my new Cuisinart automatic toaster can playback Netflix, I still haven't figured out how it works though.

Exactly how much bread does one go through for the average length movie?

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, has admitted that EU copyright law is "pushing people to steal," because they seek out illegal copies of works that are not available to them legally because of the widespread use of geoblocking in Europe.

Personally, I think they need to go beyond removing geoblocking and make it easier for the average consumer to get what they've already paid for.

I have quite a few blu-ray disc I'd really like to use on my iPad but the hoops I have to go thru have kept me from getting it done.

I just don't want to deal with the hassle after a long day at work.

Stop your bitching, got to iTunes, and pay them more money for the movie you already paid them money for. Geez, some people are never happy.

As if I had any doubts about how much of an evil CEO you really are, those doubts have now been dashed.

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, has admitted that EU copyright law is "pushing people to steal," because they seek out illegal copies of works that are not available to them legally because of the widespread use of geoblocking in Europe.

Personally, I think they need to go beyond removing geoblocking and make it easier for the average consumer to get what they've already paid for.

I have quite a few blu-ray disc I'd really like to use on my iPad but the hoops I have to go thru have kept me from getting it done.

I just don't want to deal with the hassle after a long day at work.

Stop your bitching, got to iTunes, and pay them more money for the movie you already paid them money for. Geez, some people are never happy.

As if I had any doubts about how much of an evil CEO you really are, those doubts have now been dashed.

I thought you busted me a LONG time ago. I'm disappointed with you, THavoc. You're much too trusting.

100% fact. Netflix and Hulu are easier than priacy now. I can load up Hulu/Netflix on everything, and it all be one account. I'm pretty sure my new Cuisinart automatic toaster can playback Netflix, I still haven't figured out how it works though.

Exactly how much bread does one go through for the average length movie?

I've only tried to watch Daredevil on it so far, and I've burned like 10 loafs. That show is so dark and gritty.

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, has admitted that EU copyright law is "pushing people to steal," because they seek out illegal copies of works that are not available to them legally because of the widespread use of geoblocking in Europe.

Personally, I think they need to go beyond removing geoblocking and make it easier for the average consumer to get what they've already paid for.

I have quite a few blu-ray disc I'd really like to use on my iPad but the hoops I have to go thru have kept me from getting it done.

I just don't want to deal with the hassle after a long day at work.

Stop your bitching, got to iTunes, and pay them more money for the movie you already paid them money for. Geez, some people are never happy.

As if I had any doubts about how much of an evil CEO you really are, those doubts have now been dashed.

I thought you busted me a LONG time ago. I'm disappointed with you, THavoc. You're much too trusting.

Yeah, I know. I was willing to believe people could change.

You'd think after being proven wrong so often, I'd finally learn that this is NOT the case. <sigh>

100% fact. Netflix and Hulu are easier than priacy now. I can load up Hulu/Netflix on everything, and it all be one account. I'm pretty sure my new Cuisinart automatic toaster can playback Netflix, I still haven't figured out how it works though.

Exactly how much bread does one go through for the average length movie?

I've only tried to watch Daredevil on it so far, and I've burned like 10 loafs. That show is so dark and gritty.

Is there really any better way to watch Daredevil than on your blender?

I do pirate TV shows because it provides a better service. My wife and I like Person of Interest but its only up to season three on Netflix and its not on Sky's On Demand section and there's a limit on how many shows we can record and my wife likes her trash too much.

I'm paying for Netflix and a TV package yet to watch what I want to watch, when I want to watch it, on what device I watch it and in what room I watch it in I have to pirate it. Its a crazy situation.

While better availability of paid services is a good thing they are not always equal in all countries. My Netflix in Canada has quite a significant difference of available titles vs. the US ones. The same applies to my music streaming service.

It is still geo-blocking just under the guise of a different service instead of from the networks themselves.

This is what they need to fix to truly rid themselves of piracy.

Genuinely curious: If you vacation in Florida and access Netflix over the hotel internet, do they let you log on or do they block you because you have a Canadian account? If they do let you log on, then I assume you see the American menu. So perhaps VPN is your answer, too.

I do pirate TV shows because it provides a better service. My wife and I like Person of Interest but its only up to season three on Netflix and its not on Sky's On Demand section and there's a limit on how many shows we can record and my wife likes her trash too much.

I'm paying for Netflix and a TV package yet to watch what I want to watch, when I want to watch it, on what device I watch it and in what room I watch it in I have to pirate it. Its a crazy situation.

I do pirate TV shows because it provides a better service. My wife and I like Person of Interest but its only up to season three on Netflix and its not on Sky's On Demand section and there's a limit on how many shows we can record and my wife likes her trash too much.

I'm paying for Netflix and a TV package yet to watch what I want to watch, when I want to watch it, on what device I watch it and in what room I watch it in I have to pirate it. Its a crazy situation.

I don't really pirate stuff anymore, in my mind. I pay ridiculously high sum of money for content in subscriptions. Most of the "illegal" downloading I do is to fix the stupid problems the content providers have in delivering their content to me in the first place or on demand.

So when I download something it is simply to fill in the holes left by stuff they fail to provide.

If my dvr breaks with the entire first season of fargo on it and me having watched only two episodes and provided no way to actually now watch the show without paying Amazon am I stealing or pirating? I already paid for the show. I had it recorded to watch. It is silly I can't just watch it on demand but that keeps networks from charging over and over for the same content.

I used to worry about filling in the holes but now there is so much content available that if content I already paid for refuses to show itself to me then I am just positive I won't ever see subsequent seasons.

While better availability of paid services is a good thing they are not always equal in all countries. My Netflix in Canada has quite a significant difference of available titles vs. the US ones. The same applies to my music streaming service.

It is still geo-blocking just under the guise of a different service instead of from the networks themselves.

This is what they need to fix to truly rid themselves of piracy.

Genuinely curious: If you vacation in Florida and access Netflix over the hotel internet, do they let you log on or do they block you because you have a Canadian account? If they do let you log on, then I assume you see the American menu. So perhaps VPN is your answer, too.

My sister went on a family holiday to France and they put Netflix on for their daughter. Even though her address is British, her payment details are British and her iPad was set to British Netflix defaulted everything to French.

Oh the angst of the pro-Piracy lobby now. Whether to agree with the senator that current copyright law encourages people to steal, or disagree with him 'cause he calls it stealing.

Decisions, decisions.

Oh, the assumption of the copyright apologists that everyone thinks non-physical "stealing" is bad. What makes you think that, I wouldn't edit my cellphone carrier's records and reduce my bill if I could do so 1)without having to invade the premises of the carrier and 2)there was no chance I would get caught.

To make my point clear, you either have to equate copyright infringement to physical stealing (which is ridiculous), or you have admit it's something different from the layman's definition of stealing (aka physical stealing) and hence every citizen has the right to hold a different view about copyright infringement compared to the view he has about physical stealing.

BTW, the amount of money I have saved from not purchasing games/software/music/TV shows is on the high four-digits. Copyright infringement is not some bad habit as apologists want to present it, it really is good personal finance management.

PS: One downvote already. Good. I like how Ars members like to pretend piracy is bad while hating companies that send settlement letters to pirates (in the US). It reminds me of doom9 members who are pretending that questions like "how do I convert subtitles from format X to format Y?" or "how to I handle format-used-by-pirates-such-as-MKV+DTS?" are not questions asked by pirates, ever.

I do pirate TV shows because it provides a better service. My wife and I like Person of Interest but its only up to season three on Netflix and its not on Sky's On Demand section and there's a limit on how many shows we can record and my wife likes her trash too much.

I'm paying for Netflix and a TV package yet to watch what I want to watch, when I want to watch it, on what device I watch it and in what room I watch it in I have to pirate it. Its a crazy situation.

I don't really pirate stuff anymore, in my mind. I pay ridiculously high sum of money for content in subscriptions. Most of the "illegal" downloading I do is to fix the stupid problems the content providers have in delivering their content to me in the first place or on demand.

Basically. I pay for the content, someone else packaged it up for me. In the end does it matter how I got it? I pay Dish, who pays ABC/NBC/Whoever. If I watch it live, DVR, or download, nothing changes.

For music I didn't download too much, but I certainly didn't pay for much either. Now I pay $100 a year to google to stream whatever I can, which is about $90 more a year than I used to. I'd say the content creators are winning that one but they probably wouldn't see it that way.

Honestly I'm not sure how media executives even manage to dress themselves in the morning. What a lot of this boils down to is the media companies complain that people aren't buying their stuff but ignore the fact that they aren't willing to sell their stuff. I can just imagine how their meetings must go.

Tweedledee "How are we ever going to get this people to actually buy our stuff instead of stealing it?"Tweedledum "Maybe we could offer to sell it to them?"Tweedledee "No! That's crazy talk! They have to stop stealing it first!"Tweedledum "You're right! Why should we believe they would buy it if we sold it?"

While better availability of paid services is a good thing they are not always equal in all countries. My Netflix in Canada has quite a significant difference of available titles vs. the US ones. The same applies to my music streaming service.

It is still geo-blocking just under the guise of a different service instead of from the networks themselves.

This is what they need to fix to truly rid themselves of piracy.

What the article says is that this kind of geoblocking should be removed within EU.